Automatic lighter



M h 1937 s. w. NELDNER AUTOMATIC LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1929 March 2, 1937. s. w. NELDNER AUTOMATIC LIGHTER Filed Dec. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 drawn,

Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC LIGHTER 7 Stephen W. Neldner, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to George G. Bohn, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application December 23, 1929, Serial No. 415,969

6 Claims.

This invention relates toautomatic lighters for gas burners for use particularly in connection with gas stoves, ranges, and ovens.

' One object of the present invention is the provision of an automatic lighter which will produce an igniting flame in response to initial movement of a burner control element so as to insure ignition of the burner immediately upon admission of gas thereto.

Another object is the provision of an automatic lighter which will produce an igniting flame for a burner in' response to movement of the burner control element in one direction only.

Another object is the provision in a gas stove having a plurality of burners and asingle lighter therefor of automatic mechanism for energizing the lighterin response to movement of the control of any of said burners. I

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of two illustrative embodiments of thepresent invention.

In the accompanying drawingst Fig. 'l is a top plan view of a'gas stove equipped with an automatic lighter embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a side elevation of a modified form of a lighter control mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on a larger scale taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--S of Fig. 5. H

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line' 'I-'I of Fig. 5. I I

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5.

The gas stove shown in Fig. 1 is of convention- .al form and includes the usual burners Ill supplied from, the customary gas manifold II through cocks I2 of a well known type. In this instance the manifold II is connected to a gas supply pipe I3 through a lock controlled cutoff valve I4 of the type described in my co- :pending application Serial No. 497,764, filed November 24, 1930. The stove shown is also equipped with a flash lighter I5 of well known construction arranged between the burners Ill and fed by a tube I6 which communicates with the manifold I I through a valve I'I provided with the usual push button control element I8. In this instance the tube It also communicates with a tube I9 connected with the supply pipe I3 through a needle valve by which a permanent gas supply to the lighteris regulated to maintain a pilot light therein. By the use of this additional tube I9 this pilot light is maintained when the cut ofi valve I4 is closed.

Although the cocks I2 are of usual construction' each is disposed so that the rotary control stems 2I thereof are disposed horizontally, instead of in the usual vertical position, so as to permit alignment thereof. In this instance each stem 2| is controlled by a handle 22 supported by an integral sleeve portion 23 rotatable upon the associated stem. A pin 24 projecting from each stem is slidably engaged in a cam slot 25 formed in the sleeve 23 and cooperates with the slot to effect axial movement of the sleeve when rotated on the stem. The slot also limits the extent of rotation of the sleeve upon the stem, so that continued rotation of the sleeve ultimately rotates the stem. Each handle 22 is preferably longitudinally curved, as indicated in Fig. 3, so as to clear the manifold II when lifted into the full line position shown to open the cock.

I The axial movement of either sleeve 23 upon its supporting stem 2| is utilized to eiiect automatic operation of the lighter control button I8 bymechanism preferably such as will now be described. The mechanism shown for this purpose comprises a rod 26 arranged above and parallel with the stems 2| of the cocks I2. Depending arms 21, adjustably fixed to the rod 26 by nuts 28 or otherwise, are perforated to receive the respective stems 2|, and engage the ends of the sleeves 23. The rod 26 also carries a stop arm 29 fixed thereto and engaging the push button I8.

The arrangement is such that when the handles 22 are in the lower position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, both cocks I2 are closed. When either handle 22 is swung upwardly to open one of the cocks I2, the initial movement thereof causes the sleeve 23 to shift axially of the stem 2I and thus force the adjacent arm 21 and rod 26 toward the right (Fig. 2). This movement of the rod is transmitted through the stop arm 28 so as to depress the push button I8 and thus cause the lighter to project flames toward the burners in a Well known manner. Upon continued movement of the handle 22 upwardly the stem 2I is rotated thereby so as to open the cock I2 and supply fuel to the burner, which is at once automatically ignited by the flame from the lighter. Then when the handle 22 is released it falls slightly by gravity sufiiciently to return the sleeve 23 axially into its initial position, so as to release the button I8 and thus render the lighter inactive.

The rod 25 and associated parts are preferably housed by an appropriate cover applied to and extending across the front of the stove. The cover 30 also includes a depending flange 3| at the front thereof which is preferably curved along its lower edge 32 to engage beneath the manifold II.

It will thus be noted that a control device for gas stoves and the like has been provided which will automatically light a burner upon the admission of gas thereto and which will thus insure against the emission of unburned gas from the burner.

The device illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 accomplishes a similar purpose and is adapted for use in lighting oven burners. It comprises a valve housing l2 provided with the usual oppositely directed nipples 34 and 35 for connection with the gas manifold ll and burner lead I0, respectively. The housing is also provided with a hollow boss 36 for receiving the end of a tube I 6' leading to a flash lighter of a well known type for lighting the burner. A bleed passage 19, controlled by a needle valve 20', maintains communication between the supply nipple 34 and the interior of the boss 36 so that the lighter is supplied continuously with gas in suflicient quantities to maintain the usual pilot light therein.

A hollow tapered plug 3'! rotatable in the housing controls communication between the nipples 34 and 35 and thus controls the supply of gas to the burner lead III. A spring 38 on one end of the plug 31 coacts with the end of the housing in a well known manner to maintain the plug snugly seated therein and the usual stop pin 39 on the plug permits rotation thereof through an angle of ninety degrees. A chamber 40 in the plug is always open to the supply nipple 34 through a slot 4|, and a port 42 in the plug controls communication between the chamber 40 and the nipple 35.

An auxiliary plug l1 within the plug 31 constitutes a housing for a valve 43 which controls communication therethrough from the chamber 43 to the boss 36 and which thus controls the flash lighter. An annular groove 44 surrounding the auxiliary plug l1 communicates with the in-. terior of the auxiliary plug through a port 45 and with the interior of the boss 36 through a slot 46 in the plug 37. The valve 43 is yieldably retained in closed position by a spring 47 but may be projected into open position by the application of pressure to a push button l8 fixed to the end of the stem thereof. When the button I8 is forced inwardly against the pressure of the spring 41 gas may pass freely from the supply nipple 34 through the slot 4|, chamber 40, auxiliary plug ll, boss '36, and tube It to flash lighter to thereby direct an igniting flame to the burner.

In this instance the rotary plug 3'! and the push button l8 are both operated by a handle 22 carried by a sleeve 23 rotatable on the stem 2| constituting an extension of the plug 31. The sleeve 23 is connected to the stem 2| through a pin 24' which extends through diagonal cam slots 25' formed in the stem. The pin 24' coacts with the slots 25' to eifect axial movement of the sleeve 23' along the stem 2 I upon rotation of the sleeve on the stem, and to limit relative rotation between the sleeve and stem so that the stem and plug 31 are ultimately rotated by continued rotation of the sleeve.

The arrangement is such that when the handle 22' is swung forwardly and upwardly toward the position shown in Fig. 4, the initial rotation of the sleeve 23 upon the stem 2 l' causes the sleeve to move inwardly thereon, so that the pin 24' forces the button I8 toward the left (Fig. 5) to thereby open the valve 43. Gas then flows from chamber 40 through the auxiliary plug H to the tube I 6' to thereby operate the lighter. Then upon continued rotation of the sleeve 23 the stem 2| is rotated thereby to open communication between the chamber 40 and nipple 35 and thus admit gas through the lead ID to the burner, whereupon the burner is ignited by the lighter. Then upon release of the handle 22 it drops slightly to thereby rotate the sleeve 23' in the opposite direction, whereupon the sleeve shifts outwardly into its initial position permitting the valve 43 to close.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a burner regulating valve, an element for operating said valve and movable independently thereof, a lighter control valve, and cam mechanism operated by said independent movement of said element for operating said last named valve.

2. The combination of a gas burner, a rotary valve for controlling the admission of gas to said burner, a stem for operating said valve, a control element on said stem for operating said valve, said element being independently movable relative to said stem, a lighter for said burner, and means responsive to movement of said element relative to said stem for energizing said lighter.

3. The combination of a plurality of gas burners, a regulating valve for each burner, a separately operable control element for each valve movable independently thereof, a single lighter for said burners, a valve for controlling said lighter, and means responsive to the independent movement of any of said control elements for operating said last named valve to thereby energize said lighter or deenergize the same irrespective of the position of the corresponding first named valve.

4. The combination of a burner, a gas supply pipe, a cut-off valve between said pipe and burner, a regulating valve for said burner, a lighter for said burner, means connected with said supply pipe ahead of said cut-off valve for maintaining a limited supply of gas to said lighter, and a control valve connected beyond said cut-off valve for increasing the supply of gas to said lighter.

5. The combination with a plurality of burners and control valves therefor, of separately operable control means for each of said valves, means for igniting said burners, and means responsive to operation of any of said control means for energizing said igniting means and for deenergizing the same irrespective of the position of said valves.

6. The combination with a plurality of burners and individually operable control valves therefor, of individual control means for said valves, a lighter for said burners, and means responsive to operation of any of said control means for energizing said lighter and for deenergizing the same in any of a plurality of positions of said valves.

STEPHEN W. NELDNER. 

